444 W St. James Place #415
Chicago, IL 60614
(773)317-7095 cell
(773)528-9168 home
writetrutham@yahoo.com
Professional Summary
Comprehensive experience in reporting, researching, writing and editing editorial copy. I have worked for small town weeklies, large county dailies, e-zines, trade publications, alternative newsweeklies and monthlies, and biweekly business journals.
Journalism Experience
1999-2000 Shore Line Times Madison,
CT
News Reporter
• Wrote and edited over eight hard news and features a week for a bi-weekly
paper.
• Coordinated special inserts with editors and advertisers.
• Covered education, finance, zoning, waste management, police, courts,
local commerce, state legislature issues, unemployment law, Freedom of Information
issues, local political campaigns for a town of over 10,000.
• Collaborated with other reporters on regional stories about transportation
and issues related to Long Island Sound.
Summer 1998 The Hartford Advocate
Hartford, CT
Editorial Assistant/Pop Culture and News Writer
Summer 1997 The Hartford Courant Hartford,
CT
Editorial Assistant for Technology Section and
New Technologies Writer--Wrote stories about science and technical innovations
Summer 1996 The Hartford Business Journal
Hartford, CT
Editorial Assistant/Business Writer
• Covered insurance, bankruptcy court, and chamber of commerce events.
1995-97 The Simmons Voice Boston,
MA
Science & Technology Editor and staff writer
• Planned weekly section for college paper.
• Mentored new writers.
• Edited stories for content, style, and grammar.
• Designed weekly section in Quark Express.
• Took photos with 35mm and digital camera.
• Collaborated with staff on business issues and collating of paper.
• Wrote six or more news and features a week about campus and city scene.
2002-Present Inside Publications
Chicago, IL
Freelance News Reporter for city news desk
Jan.-Apr. 2002 Senior Concierge Chicago, IL.
Newsletter Writer/Editor/Designer
2002-Present Conscious Choice
magazine Chicago, IL
Freelance Feature Writer on ecology, mental health, land use, organic gardening
2002-Present Windy City Times Chicago,
IL
Freelance Writer for city news and features involving the gay and lesbian community
July, 2003-Present Streetwise Chicago,
IL
Freelance Writer on issues related to non-profits that assist the poor and homeless
March, 2003 Reel Chicago magazine Chicago,
IL
Freelance Writer for film industry trade
Jan. 2001-April 2001 Connecticut Education Association
Hartford, CT
Freelance Copywriter for web site newsletter
Summer 1999 Monadnock Ledger Peterborough, NH News and Features Reporter and Photographer
1998-1999 University of Hartford
Informer West Hartford, CT
Pop Culture Columnist
Education June, 2004 DePaul University Chicago,
IL
MA/ Writing
May, 1999 University of Hartford West
Hartford, CT
BA/ Journalism
• Attended Simmons College from 1995-97
• Graduated Magna Cum Laude (GPA 3.57)
• Lamda Pi Eta, National Communications Honor Society, 1999
• “Honorable Mention” Nonfiction Writing Award—English
Dept. for article on college students and mental health
Editorial Skills
AP Style Manual, Chicago Manual of Style, American Psychological Association
Style Manual, American Medical Association Style Manual, MLA Guide, Spanish,
meets strict deadlines with 1000-word copy flow in an hour. Highly honed research
skills in online databases and public records searches. Team player. Proven
ability to listen and communicate effectively in groups. Learns unfamiliar technology
quickly and adapts well to changing environments. Experience usability testing
print and online documents with diverse audiences. 35mm and digital photography.
Computer Skills
Microsoft Office Suite, Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint, Outlook, Publisher,
FrontPage, Lexis-Nexis, HTML, Quark Express, Paint Shop Pro, Adobe Pagemaker,
Adobe PhotoShop, Macromedia Dreamweaver, proficient in both MAC and PC. Types
over 60 Words per minutes.
Community Activities
Depression and Bipolar Alliance Greater Chicago
• Write articles for the Spectrum newsletter.
• Write press releases announcing upcoming educational events.
• Write grants to help group receive funding to continue to do more outreach
and bring more programs, speakers to Chicago area.
• Research speakers working on new treatments and publications about bipolar
and depressive disorders for possible symposiums.
• Help plan, organize, and staff two yearly symposiums.
• Assist the office coordinator answering calls for information on support
groups and other referrals.
• Write and design letters on Word.
• Help with maintenance of media and membership database on Access.
• Assist with mailings.
Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic Chicago, IL
• Wrote “how-to” legal manuals on clemency proceedings.
• Wrote articles for newsletter.
• Stuffed envelopes and staffed reception desk.
Goldie’s Place Chicago, IL
Planned, wrote, and edited entire four-page newsletter for non-profit working
to help the homeless find jobs.
Professional Affiliations
Society of Professional Journalists
Chicago Headline Club
Chicago Women in Publishing
Association for Women Journalists
National Association of Science Writers
MediaBistro.com
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
National Alliance of the Mentally Ill